Facts About Buying a Boat That Will Impress Your Friends

Debbie Hanson

3/15/2015

You’ve been thinking about buying a boat, but want to find the right resources to help you make a well-informed decision about your potential purchase. There are plenty of facts, resources, benefits and tips that you’ll find useful if you’re buying a first boat. Here are ten facts about buying a boat that will impress your friends and guide you towards making the best choice.

Two-thirds of the earth’s surface is covered by water. If you buy a boat, you’ll be able to see more of our great big world than you can by car alone.

Boat shows give you an opportunity to look at a number of makes and models at one time so that you can easily narrow down your options. You can find a list of upcoming boat shows near you at Boatshows.com.
Depending on the type of boat you are considering, and the onboard accommodations, it may qualify as a second home and provide a tax deduction. Ask your accountant or tax advisor for additional information.

You can check the BUC and NADA consumer guides to get an idea about the appropriate value range of the make and model of the boat you’d like to purchase.

Boating magazines can be a good resource for helpful information about buying a boat. The type of information offered by boating magazines might include comparisons of different makes of outboard and inboard engines as well as general boat reviews.

Weight and horsepower will have an impact on the performance of your new boat. To ensure best performance, keep in mind that the weight will include your passengers, fuel and gear. A basic rule of thumb is to try to come as close as possible to the maximum horsepower that the boat is rated for.

Once you buy a boat, keep in mind that many marine insurance companies will provide a credit or discount if you have taken and passed a boating safety course from the US Coast Guard or US Power Squadron.

Over 90% of Americans live less than an hour’s drive from an accessible body of water, so once you’ve purchased a boat, you can start enjoying the boating lifestyle right away. Use the TakeMeFishing.org places to boat and fish map to find the best spots near you.

As soon as you purchase a new boat, you’ll need to register your boat so that you have legal documentation that proves you are the rightful owner and that it is a valid vessel to operate on state waterways.

Extended boat warranties can be purchased from a dealer as part of a new or used-boat purchase. If you know a few veteran boaters, you may want to ask them about the reputation of the boat manufacturers and dealers you are considering.

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Debbie Hanson

Debbie Hanson is an award-winning outdoor writer, women’s sport fishing advocate, IGFA world record holder, and freshwater guide living in Southwest Florida. Hanson’s written work has appeared in publications such as Florida Game & Fish Magazine, BoatUS Magazine, and USA Today Hunt & Fish. To learn more about her work, visit shefishes2.com or follow her on Instagram @shefishes2.

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